"What Leonardo brought to Milan? Experience, international contacts with FIFA, UEFA, big clubs. Leo has done everything, he toured the whole world. He is smart and knows well the world of communication."

"What can Maldini add? Paolo is the history, the figure. He is the idol. In the whole world if you speak about Milan you speak about Paolo and vice-versa. Paolo is the fidelity."

The overwhelming response to Gomez’s arrival centred on establishing exactly who he was. Having spent his entire career in South America, little was known about the player. However, it soon became apparent that the Rossoneri had signed a promising young talent.

The 23-year-old centre-back began his career in his native Paraguay with Libertad, where he made 57 appearances, having broken through the club’s youth academy. And after impressing domestically, he captained his country during the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

One year later, he left for Argentina, signing for Lanus for a fee of £1.91 million per Transfermarkt. And after forming an effective central-defensive partnership with Diego Braghieri, he would help Lanus to only their second league title this year.

Having established himself at the senior international level, he followed up his championship success in May by starting all three of his country’s games at this summer’s Copa America Centenario. This preceded his move to Milan, where he became the first Paraguayan to ever represent the club.

The player, who joined Milan for a fee of £7.23 million according to Transfermarkt, comes highly rated.

When the transfer was completed, Lanus president Nicolas Russo was also quick to praise the centre-back:

Without a shadow of a doubt he is ready for this step up. Gustavo is an extraordinary player, very strong and certainly ready to face this new adventure. His greatest strengths are in the air and in challenges. Gomez has a winning mentality and will be Milan’s first choice defender for the next 10 years. ... I can confirm that Milan, Fiorentina and several Premier League clubs wanted him.

And statistics back up the complimentary words.

For his displays in the Argentinian Primera Division in 2016, Gomez earned an average rating of 7.36 from WhoScored.com, making him the third-highest-rated player in Lanus’ first team. He also completed more interceptions and passes than any of his team-mates, won more headers and cleared his lines with greater frequency.

While the 6’1” defender has garnered a reputation as a rugged and uncompromising physical ball-winner, his statistics also give the impression of someone with an acute understanding of the game as well as strong technical qualities. These traits will help him settle in at Milan, given the new coach’s specific stylistic principles.

Already the Rossoneri look like a team in his own image, building possession patiently from the back through short passes and combinations.

Gomez will have to get used to this style of play if he is to assert himself upon the first team, though he already seems to have adjusted well on the basis of his substitute appearance in Milan’s most recent friendly against Freiburg.

Coming on for the final 20 minutes, he took up the right-sided centre-back berth and immediately won a header. He then proceeded to play several accurate forward vertical passes into the feet of more advanced team-mates.

While his outing was brief, he showed a good level of composure and a positive outlook in possession. He always looked to pick out a progressive pass, combined well with those around him to create space and occasionally pushed on with the ball at feet, showing his athleticism in the process.

Gomez has the strength and mobility to complement the more refined Romagnoli, who is known for his precise passing range and sophisticated left foot. But his Freiburg appearance also offered further proof of the technical polish he reportedly showed during his time with Lanus. Per Opta Paolo, he attempted more passes than any other defender in the Argentinian Primera Division last term.

With Milan’s 2016-17 Serie A campaign beginning this Sunday, Gomez may well be selected to start alongside Romagnoli in central defence. As it stands, he is unknown to most of European football, but that could soon change.